Egypt Raises Gasoline, Diesel Prices for 3rd Time this Year

A gas station in Egypt. AFP file photo
A gas station in Egypt. AFP file photo
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Egypt Raises Gasoline, Diesel Prices for 3rd Time this Year

A gas station in Egypt. AFP file photo
A gas station in Egypt. AFP file photo

Egypt raised prices on a wide range of fuel products early on Friday, the petroleum ministry said, marking the third such increase this year.
Prices for diesel fuel, one of the most commonly used fuels in the country, were raised by 17% to 13.50 Egyptian pounds ($0.2779) per liter from 11.50 pounds.
Gasoline prices increased from 11% to 13% depending on the grade, with 80 octane gasoline rising to 13.75 Egyptian pounds, 92 octane to 15.25 pounds, and 95 octane to 17 pounds.
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said in July that prices of petroleum products will gradually increase until the end of 2025, adding that the government could no longer bear the burden of paying the subsidies on fuels amid increasing consumption.
But the government's fuel pricing committee, which typically convenes each quarter, said on Friday its next meeting will be held in six months.



Gold Hits Record High

FILE PHOTO: An employee places ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom at the Novosibirsk precious metals refining and manufacturing plant in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, Russia, September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: An employee places ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom at the Novosibirsk precious metals refining and manufacturing plant in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, Russia, September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
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Gold Hits Record High

FILE PHOTO: An employee places ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom at the Novosibirsk precious metals refining and manufacturing plant in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, Russia, September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: An employee places ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom at the Novosibirsk precious metals refining and manufacturing plant in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, Russia, September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo

Gold prices charged to an all-time high on Thursday as expectations of more US Federal Reserve rate cuts and uncertainty over the US presidential election boosted demand for bullion, while traders awaited US economic data.
Spot gold rose 0.2% to $2,678.13 per ounce by 0934 GMT, after hitting a record high of $2,685.60, Reuters reported.
US gold futures gained 0.1% to $2,693.60.
"With the US election less than three weeks away, market caution is likely to remain a key theme. Given the tight race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, this adds another layer of uncertainty – stimulating demand for safe haven assets," said FXTM senior research analyst Lukman Otunuga.
Gold has added over 30% so far this year, with a record-breaking rally driven by expectations that the Fed will further cut rates this year after a jumbo reduction last month and on the ongoing geopolitical uncertainties.
The European Central Bank is also expected to make its first back-to-back rate cut in 13 years later in the day.
Lower interest rates and geopolitical tensions tend to boost bullion, which is considered a safe asset and yields no interest.
"The LBMA poll that came out from Miami earlier in the week, where the base look for gold prices was to rally near $3,000 in the next year and silver doing even better, I think that potential is also just attracting a bit of attention," said Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank.
The price of gold is expected to rise to $2,941, a troy ounce over the next 12 months from the current $2,661, delegates to the London Bullion Market Association's annual gathering predicted earlier this week.
Traders are on the lookout for the US retail sales and industrial production data for September and weekly jobless claims data due later in the day.
"A set of disappointing US data may fuel bets around Fed rate cuts," Otunuga added.
Elsewhere, spot silver fell 0.3% to $31.57 per ounce. Platinum rose 0.6% to $999.20 and palladium fell 0.4% to $1,019.56.